I'm sorry, but I'd never take one of my girls on vacation with me. I'd never subject them to an airplane ride - in cargo - unless I absolutely had to, and I can't imagine what circumstance that would be. Even though you may not care for how your roommate takes care of her own cats, yours would surely survive a vacation left in her care. The trauma and stress of taking her with you, in my opinion, isn't worth it. I'm not sure how you can compare traveling in cargo to the noise in a pet hotel, it's probably many times worse than the trauma you assume a safe pet hotel would be. And foreign airlines? No.

 

I'm with marie73, there is no way I'd fly my cat cargo unless it's an absolute emergency. There are too many horror stories out there. In cabin I'd think about it, but not for a week long trip, the only reason for me would probably be relocation. I may be crazy, but if I absolutely didn't trust my roommate and had no other option, I'd probably not go on the trip. I know not everyone is like that, but I strongly believe your cat will be safer and a lot less stressed at home or boarded.
I don't know where you are, but there are restrictions on pets flying cargo when it's cold, so it may not be an option. International you need papers and records and run the risk of quarantine.

 

I've heard horror stories about leaving a cat with a roommate before, but I've heard a lot more about flying with them in cargo. I would search long and hard to try to find a carrier that allows in-cabin animal carriers.

These threads are ones where this topic was discussed...

http://www.catforum.com/forum/36-cat-chat/184930-moving-flying-cat.html

http://www.catforum.com/forum/47-lounge/153760-getting-cats-across-country.html

If you're not able to afford Feliway, you probably aren't able to spend the money for good boarding or pet transport services either, so I'm not sure what to tell you except to caution you against sedation - that's where one hears the most horror stories.

 

I have flown with Yuki once to go visit my parents for a week. She flew in the cabin with me in a soft carrier that squashed under the seat in front of me. She was fine and didn't seem stressed at all. My flight was just over an hour. There's no way I would ever put her in cargo though, or fly international. In that case I'd rather have someone I trust stay with her or visit her every day.


Sent from Petguide.com Free App

 

Yes, what Yuki said. I'd put him in a soft carrier that slipped under the seat in front. Once at cruising speed you can take the carrier out form under the seat for more comfort. A small soft carrier would suffice. Cats really don't travel well so pick up some Homeopet for Digestive Upsets for the trip, too. It may help with travel sickness.

 

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that is cats are allowed in cabinsa on that airline.

Cats do just fine when we are gone. I think we miss them more than they miss us. Putting them through the trauma of a flight in cargo should only be done as an absolute last resort. I wouldn't reccomend it.


Sent from Petguide.com Free App

 

I would under no circumstances take a cat on a one week trip if it involved a plane. Even if the cat appeared to be a laid back cat while in a carrier it's still stressful. Just let the roommate take care of the cat for a week, the cat won't die if not in perfect care for a week. You'll miss the cat more than he'll miss you.

The only place we take the cats is the cabin in the gulf islands. It's about 2 hours total before we get there (car, ferry then 5 minute boat ride), but the cats get to run around the island as there's no cars or dangerous animals, so they like it. If they didn't like it we wouldn't bring them there. As it is, if we're only going a few days we don't take them.

 

Agree on not taking the cat, but..

Check and get very specific instructions from the airline you're using. Many require a completely different set of things you need to follow. Some do not allow plastic "connectors" holding the two cage pieces together, some don't allow soft, nearly all require a strict size. Don't rely on people here to get it right for you - call and be 100% certain of what the airline will allow. It would be awful to get there with the cat and have it not be allowed.

The one you're looking at has plastic snap connectors holding the two halves. I know some airlines require metal SCREWS, not snaps, to hold the pieces or it will be rejected.

 

Just to clear..I am not talking about a week trip. I was talking about a two-months trip to my parents house.

Here, in Mexico, we don´t have a lot of the great services you might have in other countries (United States, Spain, etc.). Our pet-hotels are very similar to your (and ours) public kennels, so I am pretty sure he wouldn´t like it.

As for my roommate, well...I really don´t trust her in this matter at all. She is almost never home, she never cleans the cat´s litter box (or the house for that matter), she is planning on having a lot of pre-christmas parties (we call them Posadas, here) which include a lot of noise and people, she doesn´t really feed them, etc. So...I really believe that two hours of stress is better than 60 days of feeling neglected, probably not eating well and maybe getting sick.

Feliway, as I said, it is REALLY expensive it costs me the same as the flight ticket (which is almost $100 dlls). Nevertheless, I did bought both of them because that much is what I care for my cat. Money is a problem, but as I said I was willing to pay it...I just wanted to know if there where other products or options.

To all of you who actually offered me some help, advice and suggestions - I thank you♥

 

In our defense, you put your location as California and said you're going on Christmas vacation, using a Mexican airline, so naturally we figured you're in the U.S. and taking about a week off.

I think the best advice you received was to call the airline directly and have them address each of your concerns.